If you recall from the first Sam’s Women post about Season 1, Episode 2, Diane believes that Sam only dates big-breasted airheads. This is the blonde bombshell (in a cashmere sweater dress) that leads her to that conclusion:

Sam: Do you think there’s a chance you and I could go somewhere and laugh together?Brandee (“with two e’s,” she said): My mother told me to watch out for guys in bars.Sam: Well then let’s get out of this bar so you don’t have to work.

(Apparently that was a good line in 1982.)

What my mother always told me, wherever I was headed, and especially if I was wearing a dress, was to “bring a sweater.” Thus, the sweater dress:

A friend just asked me, “Are you really taking hideous Cheers outfits and having a modern alternative involving Lanvin, Chloe, Hermes etc?” My answer: Firstly, I am sure that when these episodes aired, the characters were donning only the hippest brand name clothes of their era, as characters on hit shows tend to do. (Since their costume designer is probably 90 years old, I haven’t sought them out to ask, though I should). Secondly, if Lanvin, Chloe, and Hermes are making similar versions, the originals can’t be that all that bad, now can they? In fact the originals, at least Diane’s, probably were Lanvin, Chloe, and Hermes. Thirdly, they are not hideous outfits, they’re the best outfits, period. Which brings me to one of my favorites, Blue on Blue:

Blue button-ups have had a bit of a makeover in the course of 30 years; Acne and Equipment make my favorites. Based on the color and cut of Carla’s jeans, I would think they were Wranglers (though my mom insists Girbaud was the leading brand in 1982). Turns out Wrangler still makes a nice indigo wash jean, as does Reiss (You know it’s the right era when the jean is called “Farrah.” I swear I don’t try to make these things rhyme.), and Imogene & Willie, a brand I was turned on to by Anne Sage, who called them a “Denim Game-Changer.” They say the Elizabeth jean “sits higher on the waist for new-meets-old-fashioned feel.” Sounds like they heard my plea. And finally, the feet. It drives me crazy that we rarely get to see Carla’s shoes, so I just had to use my imagination.

Well, we’ve made it to Episode 3, where I really started to notice just how incredible Carla’s clothes are. It’s very rare that we get to see a full body shot of Carla (she’s usually busy slinging drinks and insults), but when we do, it’s golden. Case in point: this belted rust-colored denim/multicolor-striped-tee/casual sneakers gem.

I’ll get to Carla’s (well-curated collection of) hair clips and (well-curated collection of) Nikes eventually but for now these modern alternatives do the trick: